CHICAGO, Ill. (December 10, 2021) – Senior Sarah Olojo and junior Kevin Szczepaniec took home runner-up finishes to lead the Loyola University Chicago track & field teams as the Ramblers officially opened their indoor season at the Blue Demon Holiday Invitational today in Chicago, Ill.
 
Olojo got her final campaign with the Maroon & Gold off to a terrific start today inside the Track & Field Center at Gately Park.  On her second attempt in the triple jump, the local product unleashed a top leap of 38-10.25 (11.84m) that saw her finish back of only Indiana State's Ryann Porter (39-09.75; 12.13m).  Sophomore Lovie Annafi also earned herself a top-five finish in the event, registering a distance of 37-04.50 (11.39m) to take fourth.
 
Szczepaniec impressed on the men's side of the triple jump.  Also out of Chicago, Ill., Szczepaniec reached 45-03.75 (13.81m) on his penultimate attempt of the night to secure a second-place finish of his own.
 
Also impressive in the field for Loyola was senior Jana Rokitta.  The Wuppertal, Germany product cleared a personal-best 5-06.50 (1.69m) in the high jump, finishing fifth overall and moving up to second all-time in Rambler annals in the process.
 
On the track, sophomore Jayla Johnson enjoyed a breakout performance, impressing in the 60m hurdles.  In a preliminary heat to begin her outing, Johnson, out of Ann Arbor, Mich., ran a scintillating 9.02, the third fastest time in program history, to punch her ticket to the event final.  She fell just two one-hundredths of a second shy of matching that time later in the evening, clocking in at 9.04 to take fifth.
 
Sophomore Jevan Terry and freshman Petra Cokaric secured top-five finishes in their respective events as well.  Coming off an impressive 2021 outdoor season, Terry, who made his indoor debut today, raced through in 22.28 to place fourth in the 200m dash.  In her first collegiate appearance, Cokaric led the charge for Loyola in the 400m dash, finishing fifth in 59.46.
 
Loyola resumes its indoor campaign on Saturday, January 15 at the Hawkeye Invitational in Iowa City, Iowa.